Game of Thrones, I Miss You!

[shapinglight]

I should be working on the next story in my Spike/Giles season 7 series (I'm posting one for summer_of_giles in a week's time and need to get on with its sequel as quickly as possible, because it really wouldn't be fair to leave the three or so people who're going to read it hanging for too long), but I can't get my head around it yet.

The fact of the matter is, I want more Game of Thrones, and I want it now! :stomp:

Spoilers for the show behind cut



I could read the books, I suppose, but - silly though it may sound - I don't want to be spoilered for the show. The only TV show I've ever wanted to be spoilered for was BtVS, and that was only after Seeing Red.

I don't think I've been quite so in love with a show since the halcyon days of BtVS season 5, despite the annoyingly ubiquitous Roz. Okay, I will forever maintain that The Wire is the best TV series in the whole universe ever, and I do enjoy True Blood in all its OTT silliness, and BSG was a great show for most of its run, and Mad Men is still a great show, and I really enjoyed season 1 of Dexter, but this is the first time since BtVS/AtS I've felt that intense frustration and excitement you experience when you feel you need to know what happens next right now!

Ironically, as noted above, I could, if I read the books. But I think I want to see what happens next through the characters as interpreted by the actors in the show, who are those characters as far as I'm concerned. So I will have to wait. And just when I'd discovered some wonderful new icon makers too.

It's bizarre. There's still a part of me that thinks this kind of po-faced, high fantasy is faintly ridiculous and deserves to be made fun of (a la the Gandalf the Tartan sketch about LoTR in Dead Ringers), but the show was just so well done, so well acted, that I can't do that.

I was going to try and write a post about my favourite character and invite anyone who felt like it to do the same, but I find I can't do it - partly because I still can't quite decide which is my favourite character. So instead, I'm going to try and go for favourite scene. But that's horribly difficult too. So many great ones to choose from (though none featuring Roz, have to say), and I'm sure that when I rewatch I'll change my mind, but for now I'm going to go with the final scene of the finale. Daenyrys and the dragons.

What's yours?

Comments

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited that you fell in love with the show - I always wondered whether/how it would appeal to people who hadn't read the books and/or don't care so much for high fantasy and I'm delighted to read that it's main appeal - the glorious vivid characters - really came through for you. You are a lot more patient than I a because I would HAVE to see what happens next!! But I think on a lot of ways you're wise not to read the books yet! Patriot me sort of wished I could experience the show not knowing what came next (although ironically it's also likely that the passionate devotion of the book fans was a big factor in getting the series produced.). I hope the show goes on for many seasons, but if it doesn't, do you think you would want to read the novels just to find out what happens?)

[shapinglight]

and I'm delighted to read that it's main appeal - the glorious vivid characters - really came through for you.

Oh yes, but it could have been so different. Choose a different bunch of actors - your standard American network TV airbrushed, wrinkle-free mannequins, for instance - and it would never have held my interest. The cast is just amazing.

I hope the show goes on for many seasons, but if it doesn't, do you think you would want to read the novels just to find out what happens?)

Oh yes, definitely. I have to know now. I am patient, though. As long as I know I will find out eventually, I can wait and find out the way I want to. Ironically, from what I read, if the show does manage to run for five seasons or more, it will probably still end before GRRM manages to finish the last book. Or do you think the show will galvanise him into writing faster? It may have given him a new lease of life when dealing with the characters.

Another beautiful icon. Is it one of yours again? I do love the clarity.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Choose a different bunch of actors - your standard American network TV airbrushed, wrinkle-free mannequins, for instance - and it would never have held my interest. The cast is just amazing.


Yeah, Nina Gold, the casting director, was just superlative IMO. The cast is fantastic, even in the smaller roles, that would have been easier to neglect. This is why I'm not afraid for my second-favorite character, casting-wise. I'm sure they'll do a great job with season 2 as well!

Ironically, from what I read, if the show does manage to run for five seasons or more, it will probably still end before GRRM manages to finish the last book.

I think the first three books came out with just two years between each one. Hopefully, it was a change in his interim writing plans (he intended for their to be a five-year gap, that he subsequently filled in with two books, the fourth and fifth) that caused the delay with the fourth and fifth books, and the sixth and seventh won't take so long. In my dreams, every time the series finishes up a season, we get another new book, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I'm not getting book 6 in summer 2012 :P Apparently the showrunners actually do know the broad outlines of what he proposes with the ending of the series, so conceivably the show could finish before the books, but that would be weird and unprecedented I think. (Although I DO hope we get seven seasons!)

Yes, that's one of mine. Thank you so much! I'm still making icons from each episode, because it's just that beautiful of a show.

[shapinglight]

The cast is fantastic, even in the smaller roles, that would have been easier to neglect. This is why I'm not afraid for my second-favorite character, casting-wise. I'm sure they'll do a great job with season 2 as well!

Am leaping to a wild conclusion and assuming this is Brienne? Must say, I do find GRRM character names bewildering. They're all over the shop. Anyway, re the cast - I agree every single character is well cast, no matter how minor. I couldn't even complain about Roz if she would only keep her clothes on. I also do enjoy recognising so many of them. It's a Brit character actor-fest.

Apparently the showrunners actually do know the broad outlines of what he proposes with the ending of the series, so conceivably the show could finish before the books, but that would be weird and unprecedented I think. (Although I DO hope we get seven seasons!)

It would be weird and unprecedented. I can't see GRRM doing that because he would spoiler his own story. However, I suppose it's possible he could come to some agreement with HBO whereby they film the end of the story but don't air it until the last book comes out. Not sure that would work either, though. Oh well, we'll see.

I'm still making icons from each episode, because it's just that beautiful of a show.

I agree. It's looked stunning all the way through.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I DO hope we get seven seasons!
On that note, the season finale ratings were the series high.

[shapinglight]

Yay!

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I recommend reading the books after each season is over. To fill in the gaps and give you a bit more on the characters. For example - now that season 1 is over - pick up Book 1 - Game of Thrones. When S2 is over - pick up Book 1 Clash of Kings and maybe start Book 3 Storm...the books sort of fill in gaps.

It's one of the few times, I'd say that the tv series is a great complement to the series of novels in which it is based. Favorite scene? I oddly like the subtle ones, the scene with Varys and Ned and that torch,
Jamie and Barristan discussing their kills in front of the King, Bronn and Tyrion's talk in the woods, and
Tyrion's chat with Jon Snow...as well as Jon Snow's talk with Aemon.

By the way? It's going to get a lot better, it's like the Wire, the story becomes more complex, with more characters added, yet true to the originals arcs. I agree, I loved the tv series as well. But I won't spoil you..;-)

[shapinglight]

I recommend reading the books after each season is over. To fill in the gaps and give you a bit more on the characters. For example - now that season 1 is over - pick up Book 1 - Game of Thrones. When S2 is over - pick up Book 1 Clash of Kings and maybe start Book 3 Storm...the books sort of fill in gaps.

I am considering it. I'll definitely only read the first book, though.

By the way? It's going to get a lot better, it's like the Wire, the story becomes more complex, with more characters added, yet true to the originals arcs.

Good to know. And re the favourite scenes thing, to be honest I can only really think of one scene I actively disliked.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

to be honest I can only really think of one scene I actively disliked.

The infamous scene with Little Finger and the whores? It's also one of the few that was not in the book and they created on their own.

For me - there were two maybe three scenes - that one (which was jarring and impossible to hear the speech - I almost turned on close-captioning), and a few of the Drokai scenes, but I had issues with the Drokai (Khal Drogo) bit in the book. (Which I'd forgotten about - because it really isolated to Game.)

Curiously to see what you think of the first book.

[shapinglight]

The infamous scene with Little Finger and the whores? It's also one of the few that was not in the book and they created on their own

Yes, I gathered that. I thought they had added quite a few scenes actually, and people have been fairly positive about most of them. But not that one. It certainly wouldn't detract from our sum of knowledge if the scene were removed, so the exposition part of it is irrelevant. It's just there for the porn, which annoys me.